Letters
LETTERS
Supermondo
Bravo! I’ve been wanting to see more about the Ducati Supermono since the brief write-up in August’s Roundup. What a great surprise to see it on the cover in September. With 600cc Fours weighing 500 pounds, it has become obvious that less is more, especially if curves are on the menu. The Supermono sets the pace. I’d like mine as a naked-bike standard. Air-and-oil cooling, a kickstarter (push-starting is a little too basic even for the hard-core), and we’d be taking a giant step toward a new blending of high-tech minimalism that lots of riders would appreciate. If Ducati manages to build one, I’ll be first in line.
Richard Wozniak Boulder Creek, California
The Ducati Supermono is unarguably the most visually stunning Single in motorcycle history. If Ducati were to toss in a headlight and turnsignals for the $30K price tag, I might take one. When will Cycle World be offering a Supermono Sweepstakes?
Rudy White Jamaica, New York
Not so mondo
How low-voltage can one be? Pulling a plug wire off a V-Twin to make the Supermono is a stroke of genius? Why bother when the Twin’s only a little more expensive? Since the Japanese have proven that there is no way to build a decent engine without four cylinders (unless it’s devoted to lawn mowing), and since some of us know we live in 1993, why even bother with a Twin? Have you seen many VTwins in cars? Are you fond of memorabilia? Or are you simply stupid?
M. Delisle Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Disappointed with sex
I have for some time become more and more disappointed to find sex, sexist advertising and sexist editorial comments in cycle magazines, yours in particular. “Sex and the Single Cylinder” on your September cover? You must be kidding. (Yes, we were.) This is such an obvious come-on that it leaves no doubt that your bottom line is selling magazines. (Yes, it is.) The idea that a motorcycle could be sexy is ludicrous and a prime example of how Madison Avenue has corrupted English. Certainly the Ducati Supermono has beautiful and even sensuous styling, but could it actually be considered erotic? Maybe next month you could feature “Fellatio and the Four-Cylinder.” Steve Anderson
Davis, California
Get real, Anderson. Nobody likes to blow their engine.
Twisted sleazy morons
I believe that when you let a fool speak it won’t be long before every-
one knows he’s a fool. That applies to Rick Wiggins and his letter in your September issue in which he espouses the virtures of sexism, namely “cheesecake” photos of women on motorcycles.
I have noticed a definite increase in the number of sleazy ads printed in CW. I and my wife find the ads offensive for at least two reasons. Firstly, they portray all motorcyclists as being sleazy morons like Mr. Wiggins. Secondly, cheesecake is not what I subscribe to your magazine for. If that’s what a person wants to look at, there are rags that cater to that twisted taste.
I say let Cycle World be CYCLE World. That’s why I buy it. If it ever changes, you can count me out.
Michael Blakely Brownsburg, Indiana
Some explanation is in order. The Cycle World editorial department has no participation in the gathering of advertisements for this magazine. That’s good, because it means that when it comes to road tests, reviews and product evaluations, we print the truth and let the chips fall where they may, with no regard for the effects that may have on advertising. It also means the editors have no say in what ads are printed in the magazine, two or three of which, we agree, have been of questionable taste. For the record, the editorial department has protested the more prurient of those ads. The protestations were noted, but the ads ran anyway.
As a middle-class white male, I am sick and tired of reading magazines and buying products from politically correct companies. If you want to appease the 50 women that buy your magazine you are free to do so, but > please remove me from your mailing list. Jim Stanton
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MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY COINCIL, INC.
Phoenix, Arizona
Two of the 50
In reference to Rick Wiggins request for more dames, broads, chicks, babes, etc. on bikes, I would like to make a suggestion of my own. How about some nice hot beefcake sitting on a sexy bike in a thong bikini. Not some slob with his belly hanging out, but a verifiable stud. You know, biceps, pecs, quads and other yummies.
Kate Gallagher Arlington, Massachusetts
Mr. Wiggins may be interested to know that real women do buy motorcycles and motorcycle magazines. Real women also don’t object to pictures of good-looking women with motorcycles (though, in my opinion, Lorenzo Lamas would look better on the Ducati). What we object to are the vacuous-looking fluff bunnies who can’t tell a clutch from a brake and think torque is some kind of fancy dessert. So, bring back the babes, and throw in a generous number of studs to go along with them.
In the interest of fair play, I’ll be glad to pose by my ride in a bikini if Mr. Wiggins will do the same.
Peggy Helminiak Killeen, Texas
Voices of reason
Chill, Wiggins, and clean your fingernails, too. As for the people crying about the anti-Harley remarks and threatening to cancel subscriptions: This, I believe, is called testing and criticizing motorcycles. It is what Cycle World does, whether positive or negative. Stop whining.
And what is this? Profanity and cigarette ads? More canceled subscriptions? What are we, 10 years old? I’ve heard worse stuff in pre-school than I’ve ever read in Cycle World. Sorry about your virgin ears. And you, Mr. IHave-Nice-Pink-Lungs-And-Picturesof-Guys-Smoking-Will-Blacken-Them, think a minute. These ads provide the money to put out a great magazine that you fools can’t see for lack of female bodies, too much profanity, imaginary cigarette ads and some testbike criticism. On that note, don’t cancel my subscription, rip out the damn Letters column. Christopher John Odit
Clyde, New York
About the “Going, going, gone” subscription cancellations in September’s Letters section, if these people get so bent out of shape about a test remark or a certain kind of ad, you should give them the ax and leave the subscriptions to dedicated motorcycle fans. These people should get a life.
Andrew DiVita Sonoma, California
I don’t mind Jon F. Thompson’s anti-Harley Wide Glide remarks, the profanity I don’t even notice, and although a non-smoker for the last three years, I’m neutral on the cigarette-ads issue. Perhaps you could tack the remaining subscriptions from those three terribly offended readers onto the end of mine. I think your magazine is great. From Jon Thompson’s style and grace to Kevin Cameron’s techno-eloquence, you guys have it nailed! Paul Thompson Hood River, Oregon
Them vs. Us
Unless you guys really enjoy testing new Harley-Davidsons, I suggest you drop them from your magazine altogether. Based on your letters, some of your readers wouldn’t ride an H-D if it were the only motorcycle in the world. If a motorcycle can’t do double the national speed limit and doesn’t come with new bells and whistles every year, then what good is it, right?
Silly me, I thought the idea of having a motorcycle was kicking back and enjoying the ride, not trying to break land speed records on the way to work.
Japanese-bike riders just will never be able to get over the fact that Harleys not only cost more, but are worth more. Bob Sapa
Phoenix, Arizona
C’mon guys, wake up and smell the espresso. It’s one world! The days of “them and us” are over! To stand there at a Harley rally with your Seiko watch, taking videos with your Sony camcorder, so you can go home and watch them on your Panasonic TV through your Hitachi VCR, and brag to your buddies what a patriotic American you are, isn’t just hypocritical-it perpetuates the Them vs. Us mentality, and that’s dangerous.
Brian Amato Traverse City, Michigan □
